[0:01] 45. Uh, everybody is here except Dave Akuto, who should be online. Dave, can

[0:06] you hear us? Okay. >> I can.

[0:08] » Perfect. Uh, when you want to speak, just raise your hand and they will press

[0:12] your button for me so I know you're out there.

[0:14] » All right. Any questions about the update agenda this evening?

[0:18] Any questions about the formal meeting? I just want to make sure I know who's

[0:23] going to do what tonight. Uh, land acknowledgement. I'm assuming that's

[0:26] you, Robera, tonight >> as well as the 7A, the National Native

[0:32] American Heritage Month. What about the resolution commending Patrick Pico for

[0:36] local licensing authority? >> I'll do it.

[0:39] » Okay.

[0:43] All right. And then we have no public hearings, but we do have a few action

[0:46] items. 13A is the kiosk development incentive. That's in W four,

[0:53] Chris. Sure. The next one is the Thorn Creek

[0:58] properties which is view house in word for

[1:02] » word form. Okay, sure. >> And the next is the Westwood Metro

[1:07] District appointing the board of directors.

[1:12] » I think that's Yeah. Is that in board three? Do we remember? I didn't look it

[1:15] up. >> I thought I saw that.

[1:17] » I think so. But I couldn't tell if it was north or south because that picture

[1:21] I went to their website and everything wasn't very good. It was hard to read.

[1:28] » Do you want to do it Tony or >> I don't have anything printed or to do

[1:33] it. >> I'll do it.

[1:34] » Okay. >> Make it easy for

[1:37] » All right. And then we do have two other meetings tonight. We have the TDA.

[1:42] So there are a couple action items there. Improving the infrastructure

[1:45] reimbursement agreement between the TVA and Confluent which is also word four.

[1:56] » And then the budget

[2:00] budget. >> You got budget. Okay.

[2:03] » And then 5 C is transfer real property between TDA and Adams 12.

[2:10] I'll do that one. >> Okay.

[2:20] » All right. I think that's it. If I miss something, we'll figure it out there.

[2:24] All right. Let's jump into briefings. Other benefits for city council.

[2:29] » So, I'm gonna bring Trisha Hinton Potter forward. So, you'll remember just a

[2:33] couple of meetings ago, we did an update on compensation. Knowing that uh

[2:38] compensation was going to be looked at, I did get feedback from a couple of

[2:42] council members that were aware that Commerce City provides golf benefits and

[2:47] asked us to do a survey of other cities to see if that was um something that was

[2:53] typical that the council should consider. And so we've got a very brief

[2:58] presentation just to give some context but you know ultimately this is a a

[3:02] policy uh discussion and direction from the council.

[3:16] » So as Ty says this will be fairly quick presentation. Um primarily just want to

[3:21] get into that Gulf comparison with our survey jurisdictions. Talk a little bit

[3:24] about conclusions and recommendations. Um, as a reminder, just very quickly, we

[3:31] use the same seven survey jurisdictions for council pay and benefits as we do

[3:35] our general employees.

[3:39] Getting into the data itself, um, of the seven comparable jurisdictions, there

[3:44] are two that provide some level of golf benefit. Um, Lakewood provides a

[3:50] discount that varies by course. they have multiple golf courses. Um, and

[3:56] typically it's limited to their non- peak times. Uh, and then Westminster,

[4:00] they do have some form of golf benefit. Um, and it's just as when when it's

[4:05] requested through the city manager. Um, as Tancy mentioned, Commerce City also

[4:10] does have um, golf benefits that they provide to their city council. Um,

[4:14] they're not listed specifically on the chart as they're not one of our seven,

[4:18] but but that is that is another data point.

[4:23] So, as a whole, I told you this was going to be quick. Um, the majority do

[4:28] not offer golf benefits. You just have those two out of seven. Um, staff would

[4:33] recommend just continuing to monitor this uh and just not make any

[4:37] adjustments at this time. But, as Tancy said, this is an administrative decision

[4:42] and I will answer any questions you might have.

[4:46] » Questions?

[4:49] Chris? No, but we did have some additional

[4:53] discussion on um rec center passes. So, off the top of your head, do you know

[4:58] how that is with our comparison cities in terms of

[5:04] out um outliving like your time on council like having a rec?

[5:10] » I do not I do not know that. So, so um Thornton does offer recck passes for for

[5:15] all city employees, council regular temporary employees. Um, we do continue

[5:20] to offer that wreck pass for retirees. Um, I but I think what you're

[5:25] specifically asking is for council members after after their term. I don't

[5:29] know the answer to that. >> Did you know?

[5:33] » I don't know. >> The question is whether other cities

[5:36] offer that to their >> Yeah, it was something that we talked

[5:39] about as a something alternative, but I didn't know what I didn't know any

[5:44] history about. I don't know if they do either, but if it's something that's

[5:48] offered after um so you're saying they offer the city

[5:53] currently offers retirees that continued recass,

[5:57] » so that wouldn't necessarily be out of the realm after council. I mean, I I

[6:02] know that there's other cities that offer uh retirement part of it's not a

[6:06] huge amount, but there is a retirement piece. So, I think that there are other

[6:10] benefits that maybe we haven't really reviewed and monitoring is fine, but

[6:15] what are we monitoring? If it's just pay, I don't think that's necessarily

[6:19] the full benefits that are possible. You know, it's not a huge paying position.

[6:25] Um, it is a big commitment depending on what you put into it. And so, I think

[6:29] rec center passes, it's a nice benefit. It's not a huge amount of money

[6:34] afterwards either. I don't know how many would use it all the time, but it is

[6:38] something it seems like that could be a

[6:41] possibility. >> Yeah, the benefits um that we survey

[6:45] were included a couple weeks ago in the packet, and they mainly are the

[6:48] insuranceances um and the different stipens. Um I believe, if memory serves

[6:54] me, recreation is on that, but again, it's only surveying for active active

[6:59] members. >> Yep.

[7:01] » But I would agree with you, it might not be out of the realm of possibility given

[7:03] that we offer it to retirees.

[7:10] Yeah, I think the the rec center passes are it would just be a good gesture

[7:15] because I believe the RTD gives folks like free bus fair that have been on the

[7:26] board after they're finished because I know one guy that

[7:34] a friend of a friend but he's used to be on the board and he still rides the bus

[7:38] to like the Bronco games and things like that.

[7:42] » There are a couple of options with with next steps. I mean clearly again this is

[7:47] a policy decision for you all and so it would be a reasonable poly assumption to

[7:53] look for some congruity in the way employee benefits are thought about and

[7:58] council benefits are thought about. So trueing up uh retirees from service and

[8:05] um elected officials that have completed their term. There would certainly be a

[8:10] policy logic for that. We can certainly reach back out to the survey cities to

[8:17] specifically ask the question what benefits are continue you know and add

[8:23] that to the survey. um you know, are there are there benefits that are given

[8:29] to council members once they're no longer in term? We can also clearly

[8:36] expand some of the questions that we ask in the annual survey to catch more kinds

[8:41] of um benefits that might be provided.

[8:48] I mean I understand with compensation it's good to like look at you know

[8:52] comparison cities but like is it okay if we just decide

[8:59] on our own that we want to have a policy >> or do we need to again these are this is

[9:06] just a point of information it ultimately is a policy decision from the

[9:10] council

[9:13] » then I think it would be good for us to

[9:19] count council members that

[9:23] have been termed out or are no longer council members as retirees and count

[9:27] them as that for the purpose of the rec center pass

[9:33] and then to do the the golf benefit. Um, I kind of like the idea of the off

[9:40] peak thing just cuz it's it seems more fair as far as the golf, but I'm open to

[9:47] that, too. >> Yeah, I think that we should offer

[9:53] extended um benefits to former council members um

[9:58] in appreciation of their service. also don't think it should be restricted to

[10:02] people who have served a full term because

[10:06] you know there's been appointees committed countless hours to serving the

[10:11] city. So my suggestion is that we extend these whatever the benefits end up being

[10:16] that we extend them to all former council members who've served at least

[10:21] either on on city council as long as they continue to live in the city of

[10:28] » and so if they move out of the city then I don't think that I think that you know

[10:33] that's the choice they made and they no longer get city council benefits. So um

[10:38] that would be my suggestion. Um, and then as far as what we include, I I

[10:43] agree that we should do the council or the the rec center passes. So for former

[10:50] council members and current obviously um who served at least a year and then um I

[10:58] do think that we should extend it to all rec all the recreational facilities that

[11:03] Thornton offers including the golf. So, um,

[11:10] what that amount is, I'm not sure. I'd like to hear what other people think,

[11:13] but I think both of those should be offered to people who have served at

[11:17] least a year on council and continue to remain in the city. So, if you leave the

[11:22] city, again, none of these benefits would these benefits would stop. That

[11:26] would be your choice to leave the city. question. Are you saying for the council

[11:33] members and their families because right now that's what they get for the rec

[11:35] center? >> Yes.

[11:37] » And then on the golf currently we don't get a benefit for golf.

[11:42] » Yeah. I think we should get something for golf but I don't know what. I'd like

[11:45] to >> there's no discount for city, right?

[11:50] » I don't believe city employees don't get discounts.

[11:53] » Not for golf. I know golf employees get if there's a tea time available that's

[11:58] not taken they can get same day reservations but I don't think that

[12:01] » I think they get a small discount in the in the

[12:04] » in the shop if if you actually facility

[12:12] » any objection on the rec center pass for council members and their families after

[12:16] the they're done with at least a year term

[12:20] I think that's an easy one sorry >> ask a clarifying question for the rec

[12:24] center pass. Do they also need to maintain

[12:27] Thornton residency? >> I would say yes.

[12:29] » That's not a requirement of retirees of the city of Thornton. They to maintain

[12:34] that. >> I would think for council it should be.

[12:37] » Okay. I just want to make sure. >> Yeah.

[12:46] I don't play golf so I can't really talk much to that. So my family does though.

[12:51] So >> if you get to take a guest,

[12:54] » right? If they can go without me, they'd be really happy.

[12:58] » Commerce City is unlimited. >> They have unlimited. I think that's

[13:02] » what about certain >> pretty pretty aggressive, but

[13:05] » maybe a certain number a year. >> Um

[13:09] better like twice a month or something like that. That way it's got

[13:13] limitations. >> How hard would that be to track?

[13:18] » Like a punch. >> I think punch card. And if there was

[13:21] something we could give >> to you,

[13:29] that would probably be easier.

[13:33] » Kids under the age of same as insurance. Is that 23 or 25 now?

[13:40] » 26 now.

[13:42] » Okay. >> But also have to live in the city.

[13:48] Well, it could be just like, you know, uh, as Chris suggested, uh, two two

[13:56] forms a month and you get and you get like the

[14:01] like a coupon or like a something you turn in, right? And it goes to the

[14:07] council member, but they can give it to their family.

[14:12] They ton or something like that. I don't know how it works. You just do a punch

[14:17] card or something like that and then if you want it through the year you go to

[14:20] the rec center. >> So you can work out the details.

[14:23] » If we can get the parameters we can work through the details. Yeah.

[14:27] » See maybe you can ask Karma City how they do it.

[14:29] » Well, theirs is unlimited. So it's >> Oh, is it unlimited?

[14:34] » Yeah. >> General agreement twice a month for

[14:38] family members as long as they live in the city of Thornton.

[14:42] » And you can figure out how that works. the council member and the obviously

[14:46] council members live here, but >> the kids do too. Yeah. And you know, I

[14:50] would say the family members should live here too.

[14:54] » So to be clear, this is a benefit also for current and prior. So this would

[15:01] work the same as the recreation benefit is what is being

[15:04] » Yeah. You you say family members. What do you mean by that?

[15:06] » Kids that live in your household. >> Yeah. So you would get the punch card,

[15:10] but you could give it to them, right? as long as they live in the city.

[15:14] » But they don't give their own punch. >> Okay, that's what I was

[15:17] » No, they're like I like the two forms a month idea

[15:20] » that kind of used by you and your family.

[15:22] » Yeah. >> I don't want to have to go play golf

[15:25] with them.

[15:36] » Everybody okay with that general approach and then they'll figure out how

[15:38] to make it work. >> Yeah.

[15:40] » Okay. Do you have something

[15:44] » on another topic? >> Oh, okay.

[15:47] » All right. Other topic before we move to the

[15:49] » Yeah. I just wanted to mention to council that we have a member of the

[15:52] public showing a video tonight with some fairly difficult language and

[15:56] situations. >> Um we do not see a way to protect this

[16:01] information. Uh it's basically being provided by a citizen and it's a live

[16:07] viewing of a neighbor. Um, so I did send an email on this today, but I just kind

[16:12] of wanted to warn you that they are going to play that video uh if they do

[16:17] attend tonight. So the best thing is, and the police have been made aware of

[16:22] this, is to revert it back to the police department.

[16:27] » Turn it to attention for support, >> pardon me, for well

[16:33] » to address the issues raised by the citizen in the video. It's a video of a

[16:38] neighbor. >> I watched it. It was

[16:40] » It was bad. >> It was It was pretty mild.

[16:42] » But as a council, I'm like, "What do we It's It is matter."

[16:46] » It's purely a police matter. So, um I just kind of wanted to provide a bit of

[16:50] a warning. >> Can we mute it?

[16:53] » Um >> No. But it says our policy doesn't yet.

[16:55] » It's basically speech and there's not a way to protect.

[16:58] » We can give a warning to those that are watching.

[17:01] » Yeah. morning would be fine. If you've watched it, just to say there is some uh

[17:06] you know profanity and difficult situations that will be shown. So

[17:10] » assuming she's here, maybe you can give that warning or somebody some staff can

[17:13] do that. Okay, >> good time. If there are people that want

[17:16] to leave when they get if there's kids, I would want to make sure they were out

[17:21] of the house. >> Well, because we have Adam's 12 kids

[17:24] coming tonight >> for the So will they be here? I guess

[17:29] they'll be here before that. >> It's public comment.

[17:31] » Public comment. We haven't moved it yet because we have to have two votes on it.

[17:35] So, >> yeah. So, it would come um let me see on

[17:38] your >> It'll come.

[17:40] » It would come after. Yeah. >> Okay. So, some of them might be gone,

[17:43] but if they're there watching just >> I will definitely give the warning.

[17:47] Okay. >> Thank you. Refer that.

[17:49] » No, we have audience participation right after the second resolution.

[17:54] » Yeah. So, it'll be after the >> Okay. So, if there's still children,

[17:58] stop. >> And of course, the changes to your rules

[18:00] are on first reading tonight, and they do prohibit now video presentations. So,

[18:06] » but we still have to have >> those are not currently in place.

[18:09] » All right. Anything else, Tammy?

[18:12] » No, that's it. >> Anything else, Tany?

[18:14] » No. Thank you. >> All right. We do have a special meeting

[18:17] in executive session. So, I'm going to go ahead and call to order the special

[18:20] meeting of the city council. Can I please get a roll call?

[18:25] Unran W three. >> Well, she has to call roll.

[18:28] » Well, she has to call. >> We're not being recorded yet.

[18:31] » Mayor Coleman >> here.

[18:33] » Council member Auno >> here.

[18:36] » Council member Agilo >> here.

[18:39] » Mayor Proigo >> here.

[18:41] » Council member Martinez >> here.

[18:43] » Council member Russell >> here.

[18:45] » Council member Salazar >> here. Council member Sandrin

[18:48] » here. >> Council member

[18:50] » here. President. >> Thank you. And Dave, you can be here for

[18:54] the vote to go into exact session, but you won't be able to participate in the

[18:57] exec session itself. >> Understood.

[18:59] » Before I ask for that, can I get an overview of purpose?

[19:01] » Yes. Council's rules require uh at least an annual evaluation of your direct

[19:06] reports, the city attorney, the city manager, and the municipal judge. And so

[19:11] that's the purpose of this executive session to discuss performance issues

[19:15] with your three direct reports. >> Right. Are there any questions?

[19:20] All right. Can I get a motion? Yes. If council would like to go into this

[19:24] executive session, the motion would be for an executive session pursuant to

[19:27] Colorado Revised Statutes 2464024F uh to discuss personnel matters

[19:33] regarding the municipal judge, city attorney, and the city manager's

[19:37] performance. >> Second.

[19:40] » We need the motion first. Motion as stated.

[19:43] » Motion is stated. >> Now we need a second.

[19:46] » Second. >> All in favor, please say yes.

[19:50] » Yes. opposed, please say no. All right, we'll take a moment to move to executive

[19:54] session.

Thornton City Council Update Session - October 28, 2025

Transcript